Degree Overview

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Our online MBA degree will help you rise above the competition. This MBA, with a focus on strategy and management, incorporates teamwork development and simulations as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to take on mid- to upper-level management positions in business, industry, and nonprofit organizations. You will become an extremely effective manager with the credibility to set you apart.

Who the Program is For:

Experienced business professionals and managers who seek upward career mobility and need the credentials to achieve that goal.

Individuals with “real world” experience who seek in-depth knowledge and skills in business management and strategy.

Individuals who can typically spend 15 or more hours per week on their studies.

What You'll Learn

Essential Knowledge and Skills

We developed our online MBA program with significant input from experts and business leaders who serve on our Business Program Council. Our National Advisory Board consists of major corporations and foundations that provide ongoing support and advice to the university, so our graduates experience superior results. WGU's online MBA programs provide an up-to-date, relevant curriculum designed to help students gain the skills employers need. As a graduate, you'll be able to apply what you've learned, and that will play a key role in helping you reach your full career potential.

Capstone Project

The online MBA program also requires the successful completion of a capstone project.

Your capstone project is something to be proud of – it's the culmination of all your hard work. Your final project allows you to take what you've learned and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue you face in your place of business. Go ahead, show everyone what you can do.

Why We Are Different

Featured News

Find out why Fast Company calls WGU one of the world’s 50 most innovative companies, CNN says we're "a school without boundaries," and major news outlets from NPR to Bloomberg BusinessWeek are touting WGU's "potential to transform the higher education industry."

How It Works

A Degree Program That Fits Your Schedule

WGU Washington is designed to let you go to school on your time, not according to a class schedule. Our online degree program is flexible and puts you at the center of your education: you choose when and where to complete your coursework. Once you demonstrate your competency in a subject area, you can move on to your next course.

Online learning is not easy.

You should expect to work hard and spend 20 hours or more per week on your studies. Still, your program will be flexible enough to fit into your schedule, not the other way around.

How Long Will It Take?

It Depends On You

The average time it takes to complete the online MBA degree program at WGU is 2 years. That’s significantly less than at other online schools.

WGU's competency-based method, which allows you to advance through your courses using the skills and knowledge you already have, may allow you to finish your degree in even less time.

The program requires the completion of 34 competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour. Each course typically equals three or four CUs.

Ultimately, the pace at which you complete your MBA depends on how rapidly you pass assessments.

"Our partnership with WGU enables our employees to advance their education affordably without interrupting their careers." John Steele, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hospital Corporation of America

How Competency-Based Education Benefits You

Put Your Existing Knowledge to Work

Western Governors University was the first university in the country to employ a cutting edge, competency-based learning model that lets you use skills and knowledge you already have to accelerate your degree program.

In WGU's online degree programs, students advance by demonstrating their competence in each subject area. You’ll be able to move quickly through material you already know so you can spend your time focusing on what you still need to learn.

With few exceptions, you’ll be able to choose when and where you study.

You’ll complete as much work as YOU choose during each six-month term.

You’ll collaborate with your Faculty Mentor to determine the learning resources that will help you develop and demonstrate your competency in each subject area.

You’ll be required to complete at least 12 CUs per term for bachelor's degree programs and 8 CUs per term for graduate degree programs in order to make On Time Progress. If you choose to and are able, you can add courses and move more quickly through your program.

How Much Will It Cost?

Less Than You Think

We're committed to keeping tuition low and making sure our online education degree programs remain the very best value for hardworking students. WGU doesn't spend money on classrooms, research facilities, or football stadiums. Instead, we focus on keeping costs low. In fact, we haven’t increased tuition since 2008. And because we charge tuition at a flat-rate each term, if you complete coursework ahead of schedule, you can save yourself money as well as time.

You pay for time—not credits

No matter how many courses you complete each term, your tuition stays the same.

The more courses you complete each term, the fewer terms you have until graduation.

If you complete your program ahead of schedule, you'll save both time and money.

Total Tuition Depends on Time

You’ll pay the same low, flat-rate tuition each 6-month term, regardless of how many courses you complete. If you accelerate your degree program, you’ll pay less for your degree. The following hypothetical students illustrate two common scenarios for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program:

Tuition and Fees

For this program, a full course load is 8 competency units (credit hours) per term – each course generally represents three or four competency units. Because we allow you to complete extra courses at no extra cost, you may be able to increase the value of your program by dedicating extra time to your studies.

$3,250: Tuition per 6-Month Term

$145: Resource Fee per 6-Month Term

$65: One-Time Application Fee

WGU Washington's online MBA is designed to be affordable for hard-working adults with bills to pay.

WGU Is Half The Cost

WGU is half the cost of other online universities. A business degree at a traditional university can cost more than $40,000. A typical two-year master's degree program at WGU is less than $15,000.

Tuition Comparison: Master of Business Administration degree

WGU

University of Phoenix

$3,250 per six month term. If it takes two years = $13,000

36-54 credit hours x $740 per credit = $26,640 - $39,960

*Note: This chart is for illustration only and reflects the tuition information made public by other institutions and WGU's standard tuition of $2,890 per term as of February 1, 2015. Tuition for the MBA and nursing programs is higher at $3,250 per term. Actual rates will vary depending on the number of terms needed to complete the program. Check the website for the most current tuition information.

Respected, Recognized, and Accredited

Northwest Commission Accredited

Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Northwest Commission is also responsible for the accreditation of other major universities in the West, including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, Gonzaga University, and the University of Utah, among many others. Learn more about accreditation here.

An online business degree from WGU tells employers that you're serious about success.

"The big draw was the fact that it was online. I could work at my own pace." James Dye,WGU Alumnus

How a Course Works

Prove What You Know and Move Forward

You set your own pace by demonstrating your skills. In the online degree programs at WGU Washington, you'll advance through each course by first mastering the course content, then completing and passing challenging assessments that measure your knowledge and skills in each subject area.

These rigorous assessments (tests, papers, assignments, and projects) let you demonstrate your competence in each subject area in order to pass the course and earn competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour.

WGU Washington sets a high standard, and we want our students to succeed. You'll be given ample opportunity to master the subject matter and re-take assessments as needed in order to graduate.

Get Started

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. Applicants must also submit a resume showing at least three years of significant professional experience.

Question and Answer

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How does WGU keep its tuition so low?

As a nonprofit university, WGU doesn’t need to benefit shareholders. Our students are our main concern. We also try to keep our operating costs low. And since we’re an exclusively online university, we don’t need to maintain expensive classroom buildings, a campus, and other non-academic programs.

Should I consider financial aid?

Using financial aid is a personal decision. When making this decision, you should know that a degree is a great investment in yourself that will pay for itself many times over. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn on average almost a million dollars more over the course their careers compared to those without one. A master’s degree typically has a similar impact on your wallet. You should definitely consider federal financial aid if it means the difference between getting your degree or not. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more.